There is a membrane-like layer that we call the mucous membrane that surrounds the surface of the entire gastrointestinal tract, and the clefts that start in this layer and extend to deeper layers are called ulcers.
The most common type of peptic ulcer caused by stomach acid is seen, rarely ulcers due to stomach cancers.
What is the cause of peptic ulcer?
Peptic ulcers are most common in the small intestine, stomach and esophagus, respectively. They occur due to increased stomach acid. When stomach acid increases, the enzyme called pepsin becomes active and damages the gastrointestinal wall. Normally, the stomach surface is surrounded by a protective layer against acid. The mucosa is damaged due to the increase in acid and either the damage or decrease of this layer, and first superficial wounds and then deep wounds develop.
Stomach acid increases due to stress, meals and some diseases. In addition, painkillers and h.pylori bacteria cause damage to the protective layer of the stomach, and even a normal amount of stomach acid can damage the stomach.
If we talk about H.pylori bacteria; While this bacterium is found in almost 80 percent of Turkish people, it causes complaints and illness in only some people. Due to some unique resistance mechanisms of the bacteria, unlike many other bacteria, it cannot be eliminated with a single antibiotic treatment, multiple antibiotic treatments lasting up to 15 days are required. If the bacteria is not treated, it can lead to some other serious diseases besides ulcers over many years.
What are the symptoms of peptic ulcer?
The most common complaint is pain on the stomach. Pain that hits the sirat indicates an ulcer.
Nausea, vomiting, weight loss may occur.
Pain awakening from sleep, vomiting, weight loss may indicate that the ulcer may be a deep or malignant ulcer.
In addition, the first sign of ulcer may be bleeding or tearing, perforation, which are life-threatening conditions.
How is the diagnosis made?
Peptic ulcer can be strongly suspected with obvious complaints, but the definitive diagnosis is made by endoscopy. With endoscopy, information is obtained about the presence of the ulcer, the location of the ulcer, its size, whether there is a risk of bleeding, and its character. Endoscopy allows us to obtain more valuable information about the ulcer by taking a biopsy.
Endoscopic examination should be performed in all patients with pain awakening from sleep, vomiting, weight loss, family history of gastric cancer, and stomach pain over 35 years of age.
What is an endoscopy like?
Endoscopy is the process of seeing invisible parts of the body with a flexible tube-shaped instrument with an imaging system at the end. It has various applications in medicine. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is performed to diagnose peptic ulcer. With this process, the esophagus, stomach and the beginning of the small intestine are seen. Tissue samples can be taken during endoscopy, if necessary. Visible abnormalities in the upper digestive system are usually always detected with this method.
Is peptic ulcer treatment difficult?
The most common cause of peptic ulcer is H.pylori infection, as mentioned before. Biopsies taken while the diagnosis of ulcer was made by endoscopy h. It also provides pylori determination. If h.pylori is present, the ulcer heals quickly with its treatment. If there is none, ulcer regression is ensured with gastric acid-reducing drugs.
Surgery has little place in the treatment of peptic ulcer. The reason is that most ulcers can be treated with drugs before they reach the degree of tearing or tearing and sticking to the surrounding organs. In addition, bleeding stomach ulcers can be treated more successfully with the endoscopic method compared to the past.
What should people who are obliged to take painkillers or drugs such as aspirin should do?
Patients who need to use drugs such as pain relievers other than aspirin for a long time, as well as a physician, prescribe a drug that reduces stomach acid. However, stomach acid medication is not always given alongside aspirin. If the patient has complaints, he or she should consult a gastroenterologist. If an ulcer is detected in the endoscopy, aspirin is either discontinued or replaced with another drug together with the cardiologist.
Cigarettes, alcohol, acidic food and beverages, coffee, painkillers..
